5 comments about What Though the Odds.

1. As a former South Bend resident, I well remember the horrible bus crash and the sadness at the loss of the two swimmers. Haley Scott DeMaria's book takes the story into the aftermath of that crash and her physical and emotional struggle to recover. She is incredibly honest about her feelings, especially toward her mother. Although her resentment at being so dependent upon her mother is natural, most people would hesitate to admit it.
   
   Haley's determination to overcome her physical disabilities is inspiring. Throughout what must have been incredible pain, hard work and disappointments, she continued to keep her eye on the goal: to once again swim competitively for Notre Dame.
   
   "What Though the Odds" is an aptly named book about a young woman facing life-altering circumstances and triumphing.



2. Into a world in which things seem to be falling apart comes Haley Scott DeMaria's What Though the Odds, a recounting of the author's personal and inspirational courage in response to a sudden and tragic accident. The depth of it all goes beyond her agonizing, physical recovery from a broken back, to her emotional evolution from a typically self-centered teen-ager into a mature and loving human being. The challenges met and the outcomes effected could only have been overcome through the intense support of her family, friends, and university and her faith in God. It is a beautifully told story. You may weep a bit, but mostly for joy: Better than a triple espresso and much more durable



3. Congratulations Haley! This book will provide inspiration and thoughtful discussion for all. I can't wait to have my grandchildren read this book. A real life hero emerges. Even though I shared this time with Haley and her family there are details in the book I didn't know. Enjoy!



4. Wonderful - your story is an ispiration for anyone who picks up this book! Thank you for sharing it with the rest of us!



5. I was blown away by the story of Haley Scott. If you are looking for something to reaffirm your belief in people, read this book.

5 comments about Covert: My Years Infiltrating the Mob.

1. Entertaining read. His story is quite remarkable. You don't come across someone who has his life experiences very often. I would recommend this book very highly.



2. From the first pages, I just could not put this book down. The suspense in dealing with people who could turn on you any moment was thrilling. It is obvious that Bob Delaney is one of our true heroes in the fight against crime.
   I highly recommend this book to those who like true real life thrillers.
   Tim Berg.



3. This book stinks! Just another cop glorifying himself. Covert: My Years Infiltrating the Mob



4. This book is a must for anybody who enjoys Mafia stories, but inside is so much more.
   
   Bob Delaney has a story to tell that few people can truly appreciate, let alone relate to. The detail in the tale of his undercover life is amazing, and Dave Scheiber brings the Jersey waterfront to life in front of you. We all know what today's high-tech world is like, where you can bug a man's house from top to bottom without the slightest clue, but imagine what it was like back in the 70s, when state of the art devices were still pretty sizeable tape recorders. Bob Delaney was undercover, surrounded by the Mafia, wearing wires and carrying tape recording devices that weren't exactly nano-technology.
   
   Hearing his depiction of the events and his life before and after the experience is an incredible privilege, and I urge anybody to read this book.
   
   Good journalism is nothing more than the art of telling a story. Bob Delaney had a one in a million story to tell, and Dave Scheiber told it to perfection.



5. Great book by an author who has lived a diversified life, from under cover state trooper to NBA referee. Bob Delaney is a special guy who exposes the mob for the exploitative, amoral group of criminals they are.
   
   Delaney tells a serious story with humor and a style that keeps the reader turning pages. I recommend this book to everyone interested in criminal justice or just a good nonfiction read.

5 comments about Swimming to Antarctica: Tales of a Long-Distance Swimmer.

1. This story is not only impressive in the athletic achievement; it is noteworthy that she refuses to abandon her goals even when faced with the impenetrable wall of the Kremlin's closed border mindset.
   
   Well worth reading.



2. Based on the other reviews, I was quite excited about reading this book as I generally enjoy books about athletic exploits by unusual athletes. However, Lynne Cox never quite explained why she was doing what she did. By the time she was swimming to Antarctica, I was left asking why??
   
   Unlike, say, Lance Armstrong's book, Lynne lacked a central goal, and so the book was really a series of short stories about the various swims she tackled. As one other reviewer pointed out, it became somewhat repetitive. The early stories about swimming in California and the English Channel were to me more interesting simply because it was the first time I heard the tale.
   
   The book isn't bad, but it's also not great.



3. For the first 150+ pages I was intrigued with Ms.Cox's swims.....her amazing endurance and determination. But then...page after page after page....more or less the same....far more than I ever needed or wanted to know about long distance swimming particularly in icy cold waters. When.....at the last chapter...she actually did swim in Antartica waters, although I was sitting in my warm office, I shivered.



4. This is one of the best books I've read. It's an incredible story of a girl who was inspired to do something painful and difficult -- both to test herself and for the thrill and love of the cold water. It's very well written and hard to put down. I have recommended this book to friends and family members who swim, as well as other people who enjoy reading about accomplished women. I found myself cheering her on in each swim and feeling what she felt. After reading this I can never complain again about getting tired from swimming a few laps! Go Lynne!



5. Lynne Cox is a somewhat gifted writer ; an astonishingly gifted swimmer. Put them together and you get this very solid book. Lynne lovingly and with stunning clinical accuracy reports on her experiences of achieving the impossible. She shows us just how human a superhuman person can be, if that makes sense. (hey, did I say *I* was a writer??)
   
   I felt that by reading this book, I had a bit more understanding of what it might feel like to have a gift. Lynne shares that with us, along with her honest frustration at the beginning of her 'career' when she was not super fast or super buff. Talk about finding one's niche!
   
   It was interesting to read in the USMS journal this month, that more studies are being done to learn about certain people who can tolerate cold; Lynne's experiences pioneered these studies.
   
   I would refrain from judging her for what she did or did not contribute to world peace. She certainly harmed nobody, and as mentioned above, kickstarted some studies which may benefit us all in the future. Yes, I too would have enjoyed some photos and some more personal information about Lynne Cox. (Reading her next book, Grayson, did nothing to satisfy this curiosity.)
   
   I'm not sure you have to be a swimmer per se to enjoy this book, but it is hard to imagine a non athlete devouring it with quite as much gusto....That said I do not know a single Masters swimmer who hasn't read it. I do know that the next time Lynne Cox comes to speak in my area, I will drop everything to be there and listen.

5 comments about Training a Tiger: A Father's Guide to Raising a Winner in Both Golf and Life.

1. I bought this book to help me take care of my new baby tiger, Thundercat. All I found was a bunch of crap about golf and black people. In the end, the tiger died. I tried to stuff a golf club down it's gullet but nothing happened except it threw up all over me and went to sleep. Overall, I do not recommend this book if you care about your new animal friend or are an animal lover AT ALL.



2. This moron is a jealous racist. Everything he said is wrong. He should know what he is talking about before he speaks. Earl never asked Tiger to go golfing with him. The only way he would take him is if Tiger asked to go. Tiger is Stanford educated, insanely rich, the best golfer in history, never been in trouble and calls his dad his best friend. I would give anything to be sure my kids were half the person Tiger is. If you read this book and got nothing from it I feel bad for your kids. By the way he is the best dressed person on tour!!



3. This book is great! Anytime you can read about wonderful parenting, it is a highllight in your day. As the mother of 2 boys I can only hope to be so self sacrificing as Earl Woods. Whether you are into golf or not, all children could benefit from more attention from their parents. This book is about putting the child first and helping them make their dreams a reality. While so many children watch tv all day, it sure is refreshing to read about a parent who demonstrates the real meaning of parenting-take the time to train the children up right and they will end up as you trained them. Earl is truly an inspiration. Thank you for writing the book if you read this email Mr. Woods.



4. In Pete McDaniel's, Training a Tiger, Tiger Woods shows you basics and in depth steps to golf. This book will show you how to start a your child in golf, equipment, putting, short game, driving, practicing, and in to mental mechanics. The authors purpose for writing this is to show young kids how to golf. It is worth reading if you want to improve your golf game or your childs.



5. Well, I think the fact there are only three reviews of this book before mine pretty much sums up how popular it is.
   As I write this, there is a show on TV called "American Junior" -- a take-off on "American Idol" in which children with prodigious singing voices try to become stars. The most striking feature of the show, however, is not the kids' talents but their parents' obsessions. They are trying to achieve vicariously, through their kid's success, the fame and fortune they were never able to achieve on their own. I think you probably get my analogy to Earl Woods.
   By the way: I have a point to make about Tiger that has nothing to do with this book, really, but that I want to get off my chest. It has to do with his wardrobe. He is in serious need of a fashion makeover. Here is his customary garb:
   1. "Poofy" (i.e., baggy-legged) pants. The effect is a little bit odd.
   2. A standard golf shirt -- but with the top, collar button fastened. This is a distinctly child-like feature; normally the only people with top button fastened are little boys dressed by their moms.
   3. A cap that is more rounded than that of other players; if you removed the bill and attached blades to the top, it would be a perfect propellor beanie.
   What I'm getting at is that his working clothes are childish. When combined with his natural baby face, the effect is comical. I predict that 20 years from now, film of Tiger in his 20s will look as silly as film of golfers in the 1970's with their tight, plaid pants, wide white belts, and super-sized lapels on their shirts.
   So Tiger -- please come up with a new look on the course to go with your fabulous game.

5 comments about A Lion's Tale: Around the World in Spandex.

1. I had high hopes for Chris Jericho's debut biography A Lion's Tale: Around the World in Spandex, and for the most part I enjoyed what I read. However, perhaps due to the extreme hype, comparing Jericho's debut book to Mick Foley's classic Have a Nice Day, or perhaps even due to my own personal expectations, I was let down just a little bit. My main gripe with the book is that Chris doesn't get as personal with the reader as one would have enjoyed. Mick really exposes himself and allows himself to be vulnerable, while Chris still seemed to be holding back, mainly in the personal life department.
   Also, unlike Foley's book or even Shawn Michaels' book, A Lion's Tale seems to coast between feelings of "things are going ok" and "things are going really well" without hitting any sort of rock bottom that could possibly expose Chris to the reader and allowing us to see Chris Irvine and forget about Chris Jericho. HBK's book and Foley's books had extreme lows which made the highs that much better; something that Chris' first outting is seriously lacking.
   All in all however, I do suggest that wrestling fans and Chris Jericho fans alike pick up the book, it's a promising first effort, but it's no "Have a Nice Day". A follow up on his WWF/E days should be mighty interesting though.
   
   Sean



2. Chris Jericho's autobiography, A Lion's Tale: Around the World in Spandex takes a look at the life and times of everyone's favorite Lionheart of the wrestling world. This is purposely written as a "part one" of sorts as A Lion's Tale only details Jericho's wrestling endeavors up until his then WWF debut in 1999. I fondly recall being a die-hard Jerichoholic from his late 90s WCW exploits, but I had barely a clue about his indy wrestling days, so the book was going to contain a lot of new information. I had no idea how interesting it was going to be reading about a lot of his fellow indy wrestlers I wasn't familiar with. It turned out be pretty interesting after all. Jericho spends a lot of time writing in-depth about training in the notorious Hart Family Dungeon in Canada and trying to get matches in California and Japan.
   
   After finishing this book, Jericho did have one heck of an indy career. Reading about how he became a teeny-bop sensation in Mexico and how being a guest on Mexico's top late-night program led to a live call-in vote to determine his ring name was just a tiny sampling of his crazy days wrestling all over the world. Jericho also has many more peculiar tales of his days wrestling under circus tents in Germany, desperately seeking out a McDonalds while wrestling for WAR in Japan, and shooting rock star promos a decade behind the times for Smokey Mountain Wrestling while tagging with Lance Storm. Don't just skim over these parts, there is a lot of intriguing information to be discovered about Jericho and his days on the indy scene.
   
   I was really anticipating him talking about his ECW and WCW tenure, and it delivered. He didn't spend too much time in ECW, just a few months and not even 30 matches before he was discovered and swept by WCW. His three year WCW run is by far the highlight of the book for me, most likely because it was what I was most familiar with and for his unique insight to what went on behind the scenes in WCW during the crazy nWo era. I was glued to the book to when Jericho detailed what he had to go through in order to get his storyline with Goldberg to go as far as it did, and still have no blowoff match to it all.
   
   It is very refreshing to see this book bring up a couple topics in great detail that aren't in most other wrestler's books that are published under the WWE Books label like steroid use and wrestler salaries. It's just too bad the book only covers his Pre-WWF/WWE years, I guess that's what the sequel is for, but if you can get by the fact he doesn't talk about his WWE years (he does talk about the process that lead to his signing and debut as the book ends the moment he interrupts the Rock's promo on this 8/99 RAW debut), than by all means check this one out.
   A Lion's Tale: Around the World in Spandex



3. I usually read a wrestling book as a summer read and this year i read a Lion's Tail. A great book about a journey from the begining to what has become a possible hall of fame career. I highly recommend it.



4. This was a good book. It was pretty well written and the pace kept me turning the pages. Lots of fun stories about life on the road as a wrestler. I was glad to read about some of my favorite wrestlers from a new perspective. I have to admit that I am a total mark for Jericho. Good stories and a nice look at his journey to being a true superstar. I don't know if someone who didnt like wrestling already would enjoy it though. But I sure liked it.



5. I highly recommend this book! After eagerly awaiting it for a month I finally got it and read it in 3 days, it is funny, face-paced, witty and an easy read. You'll laugh out loud several times and almost pee yourself if you read this book. I highly recommend it to all the Jeriholics out there and even if your not, its still a great read. Buy it!

5 comments about Bowerman and the Men of Oregon: The Story of Oregon's Legendary Coach and Nike's Cofounder.

1. I knew that Bowerman coached Pre and had an influence on Nike and the jogging boom of the 70s, but Moore's biography fills in all the gaps from Medford to Mexico City. Bowerman's life reads like a case-closing defense of the Great Man theory of history, at least for track & field. His accomplishments are truly remarkable and well-rendered by Moore.



2. This is an invaluable read for anyone involved with coaching. The first chapters on Bowerman's ancestors also offer some insights into Oregon life in the small towns in the late 1800's early 1900's. Finally, the book is well written and easy to read. All around a worthwhile experience!



3. This is one of the first biographies that I could not put down. Bowerman was so much more than a running coach. This is a must read for any runner.



4. Bowerman was one of the best XC and Track coaches in the Nation. His story is captured in this books and tells remarkable tales of his life that will live in distance runners hearts for years to come. This is a must get book and is much better than any other book even Running with the Buffalos. Dont pass this book up!!!



5. Even though I am a big track and field fan, and I even went to the NCAA National T & F Championship meet at Oregon in 1962, I never realized how big an influence Bill Bowerman was on his athletes and on the whole state of Oregon.
   
   This well-researched volume gives the reader a true understanding of Bowerman-the-man, his roots and his impact on Oregon society. It was a wonderful read and an inspiring personal journey.

5 comments about Chalked Up: Inside Elite Gymnastics' Merciless Coaching, Overzealous Parents, Eating Disorders, and Elusive Olympic Dreams.

1. The subtitle of this book sounds like an Afterschool Special. But "Chalked Up" is actually a fascinating,un-cliched read. The author has a lot of things that set her apart from the "typical" athlete, but also enough in common so that it should resonate with anyone who has trained for and competed in an elite sport.
   
   Sey depicts herself as a sensitive, perfectionistic child whose determination to win came from inside, not just from coaches and parents. As a gymnast, she was emotional, anxiety-prone, and did not receive the attention of many top trainers as a result. But she was hardworking, talented, and managed to distinguish herself in the sport, until pressure and injury made her leave the sport. (Though she excelled in school and went to Stanford, she still considered herself a failure at the time.)
   
   As I read, I sensed a struggle from the author between the desire to tell just how bad it was for her and the other young gymnasts, and another to be fair to the various adults in her life who were not always there for her. One example is that she claims she has not told her parents about the book (until it comes out), but dedicates it to her mom. But I think this ambivalence actually makes the book more interesting, as she attempts to see things (briefly) from her parents and younger brother's viewpoint, and avoids portraying herself as a blameless victim. While there were subjects that seemed too hastily touched on (like sexual abuse by some of the coaches), I'd recommend this book to any gymnast - and perfectionist.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   



2. First I want to comment on the review by J.Nichols, posted May 5. Just because J.Nichols doesn't sympathize with Jennifer Sey's account of training at Parkette's doesn't mean J.Nichols' has the facts, yet her attack on Jennifer Sey seems to suggest that. I have seen videos of the training at "Parkettes" and I'm inclined to agree with Jennifer Sey's account. I loved "Chalked Up." I think everybody who is open and has a heart can enjoy and learn something from this book. It is beautifully written, genuine, and extremely entertaining. I think Jennifer Sey is an enormously talented, creative, courageous person with a big heart. I admire her honesty and courage in facing the truth about her past. I think this book has so much to offer.



3. I was a gymnast of the 1980s at SCATS in Huntington Beach, CA (then west coast rivals of Parkettes), under the direction of Don Peters. As Class I gymnasts (today's Level 10s) our workouts were combined with the confirmed Elite level athletes, many who were national team members with Jennifer. I was eager to read her book because she was someone I hadn't met but had heard about through the slumber party stories and post-meet adventure chatter at the gym.
   
   It wasn't the tell-all I was expecting, it felt very much like my own story minus the part where I win the 1986 National Championships. I was embarrassed to read her account of Peters giving the "fat speech" before the World Championships-- I thought those speeches were reserved for the members of our private gym where we had daily weight checks. We protected our bulemic and anorexic girls, covered weight gains with really good stories. I even took the fall for one high ranking gymnast's binge and purge weekend when food went missing, rather than out her. I was shocked to read about the chair being thrown at a gymnast-- I thought only our coaches threw tantrums and objects. It felt "good" to hear that I wasn't the only one who had foul language directed at me in the gym. I have a strange sense of peace knowing that we weren't alone. I hear thanks to my injuries I was one of the most expensive gymnasts at SCATS in my time. And it's thanks to those injuries I burned out before I could earn even a bottom of the barrel college scholarship. Where's my: I did my best in gymnastics for 10 years and all I got was a rib removed, a broken foot, a reconstructed ankle, and a broken wrist!" t-shirt?
   
   To the people taking issue with Jennifer's account I say if your experience was different, it was just that: different. Sometimes we feel it necessary to call the dissenter a liar to protect ourselves or correct it with our own version of what we believed happened. 1980s gymnastics was crazy and it's thanks to the gymnasts of that era it is much improved.
   
   To my friend Jen, thank you.



4. A riveting and heartbreaking must read for all mothers raising daughters in today's fast paced, hyper-cometitive, overscheduled world.



5. With glittering spare prose and clear-eyed insight, Jennifer Sey recounts the harrowing tale of her pursuit of gymnastics glory in the eighties. She is not afraid to delve into the dark places with this gritty, uncompromising look at winning at all costs. Remarkably, Sey doesn't indict the sport or blame anyone for her experience, other than herself and her own drive for success. It is a heartbreaking story but ultimately one of true strength and grace. A brave, honest, unflinching personal book. A must read for parents, fans, athletes, and anyone who likes a well-written, riveting story. Read it.

5 comments about Free Byrd: The Power of a Liberated Life.

1. I bought this book because I love baseball and the Lord and because I have much respect for those seemingly few players who are successful both on the field and in their spiritual lives. The book is filled with great stories about Paul's baseball experiences, but what touched me most was how Paul recognizes how his relationship with his earthly father has shaped his view of his Heavenly Father. This is so true in my own life and it is comforting to know that someone as successful as Paul carries some of the same burdens as the rest of us. In this book, Paul writes, "I had spent most of my life imitating my living legacy, Larry the Legend (his father), by being a good, honest, and just person apart from Christ, which is impossible." I couldn't agree more! I too want to live "from Christ." Thank you Paul for sharing your stories, your insights and your life experiences so that we all learn from them. Your Father is proud!



2. Paul Byrd is living proof that Professional Baseball Players can and do have talent in areas off the field. Christians are not perfect.
   They recognized they are sinners deserving hell, they have repented of their sin to God, asked forgiveness, placed their faith in the blood of Jesus as payment of their sin-debt which guarantees their eternal salvation, then asked that God begin to make them into the person He always wanted them to be.
   We are real people, in a life-long struggle, fighting real temptations. We are just doing it with the awesome help of The Holy Spirit. Paul doesn't rely on religious systems to guide his Christian walk. He goes right to the source of all knowledge and all the wisdom we need for life in this world and for eternity to come, God's perfect and Holy Word.
   Paul, you nailed it. I just hope and pray you keep writing.
   Thanks for your testimony.
   Tim Billheimer
   Alliance, Ohio (Tribe Country)



3. I attend (and work for) the church where "Counselor Frank" is pastor. As Paul releases the LIFE that we learn more about every Sunday, we are watching him in the Grace lab class. As Frank says, sometimes grace is messy, and Paul doesn't try to put it in a pretty package. His candor is so refreshing, and I'm excited for people to read that loving and being loved by God doesn't mean never screwing up. Instead, it means we know who and whose we are even when we do screw up! Bravo, Paul!



4. Forget the whole HGH thing! If the publishing world had drug-testing, they'd be checking Byrd for manuscript-enhancing substances. He's that good. Where does this guy get off scribbling out a masterpiece like this between starts for the Indians? In the process of addressing the most relevant issues shared by men today, Byrd combines the candor of J.D. Salinger with the wit of Donald Miller (makes you wonder if Miller has hidden baseball talents?). Most refreshing of all, Byrd's not out to preach or "fix" the reader. He's just sharing (amazing) stories from his life - along with the lessons he's learned from life on the mound. Prediction: Byrd will become the writer for the "Christian everyman" in the new millennium. Baseball was just his warm-up act.



5. My husband was reading this book and kept saying, "Come here, you have to read this." or "Listen to this paragraph" and he would proceed to read excerpts. So interesting and inspirational were the stories I began to read the book as well, and I am happy I did. Paul Byrd's book is honest, emotional, raw, intelligent, and funny. It's a great read and I can only imagine how much a father and son would get out of this together. Dads get this book for your sons and sons share this book with your father - you won't be disappointed. Thanks Paul for sharing your life with us and helping us learn, grow and laugh with you.

5 comments about My Losing Season.

1. Amazon.com Book Review
   My Losing Season by Pat Conroy
   
   The difficulty and pain that military basketball players go through are shown in My Losing Season by Pat Conroy. Pat Conroy writes about his life as a Southern college student at The Citadel during the 19676 basketball season.
   Pat Conroy's father grew up in the South. His father is in the military and is constantly being sent to work at different places. This causes the author to attend many different high schools during his teenage years. These years are filled with the beatings from his father to his entire family. Pat Conroy is able to put everything he was into the basketball he plays at high school and college. These games and practices help keep Pat from killing his father during one of the many depressing times Pat has. After high school, Pat accepts a basketball scholarship at The Citadel, a military college. His first years at The Citadel are filled with the harsh practices from his coach, the sweat parties during plebe week, and the constant reminder of his father. When the author is a senior he doesn't start the first basketball games and isn't picked as a captain. Instead, he rides the bench with the Green Weenies. Pat battles with his coach, his father, and his college throughout his time at The Citadel.
   As time progresses, Pat goes through numerous challenges. The author is faced with the conflict of depression, and does whatever he can to survive the painful time it brings. Conroy is forced to deal with his father and his basketball coach. He is constantly beaten by his father. Pat is also benched by his basketball coach and yelled at for doing nothing. Pat has to somehow go through the challenge of living his own life happily. The author shows the pain his father caused him when he says, "The game kept me from facing the ruined boy who played basketball instead of killing his father" (6). Along with Pat's father, Conroy has to deal with his basketball coach, Mel Thompson. Mel forbids dates, laughing, or any fun a basketball player could have. This causes pat to go through most of life unhappy and causes him to do whatever it takes to become happy. The basketball that he played was one of the few things that solved his conflict.
   Pat Conroy is able to write in a way that makes one feel that they are attending the events that Pat Conroy is talking about. He is able to write in a way that shows what his life was as a child, but still make it interesting and exciting for the reader. He is able to show the things that he is feeling and the suffering he has as his college. Pat Conroy shows his writing when he describes his team when he says, "I felt my team coming together at last, the way teams are supposed to feel, the ones who you would go to the wall for, dive on the floor for, and shed your blood for" (331). Pat Conroy has the writing style that is very descriptive. The way he writes makes me feel I am watching a movie, instead of reading a book. I am able to see and feel the pain, depression, and rare happiness during the story.
   I felt that this is one of the best written books that I have ever read. This book made me keep reading and kept me from putting the book down. I felt that Pat Conroy did a very good job of writing about his college basketball career in a way that anyone would like it. I liked how he made his own life interesting and true. Also, I liked how nothing was hidden, and he told the truth like a clear jump shot from the corner.



2. Growing up Catholic in the 1960's and 1970's and playing basketball every day because we didn't have the money to go on vacation, are two of many drivers that singles out Pat Conroy's "A Losing Season" as the most talked about book among my friends in our New York suburb.
   
   Mr. Conroy's ability to balance brutal honesty with a sensitivity toward young men of our era, dwarfs my favorite writers such as Tom Wolfe in nailing the complexities of being innocent in a period that was conflicted with our feelings of supporting the beliefs of our fathers who were from WWII and the realities of the 60's and 70's.
   
   When a writer as strong as Pat Conroy takes on young men growing up in the 60's and 70's trying to figure out their catholic up-bringing, clashing with their generation's challenge to conventional beliefs - the result is explosive. Don't miss the best read of your life.



3. A rough life is an understatement for young Pat Conroy. His abusive father and enabling mother help make it an enduring test of character for Pat. He walks away a strong person and also a wise one. Mel Thomason awaits Conroy as yet another test of will power for Pat. Mel is a stubborn man looking to rule a team of basketball players. His ways of braking down a player only to rebuild them and smash them down again, is a test of just how much a man can take. Pat endures a very painful character building period.
   
   Pat Conroy tells a story like a god. Throughout the book Pat is inquisitive about what he will be after basketball is over for him. He lets us know that he has always known he was a great writer but was unsure of himself. He was at a loss for what it was he was meant to do. This book is not only about basketball, but also of self-inquiry. It is a journey of Pat's search for his life road.
   
   Along with Pat's struggles came reward. Pat felt as though he was coming into himself. He discovered life lessons and set life goals. He believes he learn more about himself his senior year at the Citadel then any other single year he as lived. Life is full of self-discovery, especially for Pat.



4. What a great coming-of-age book, whether you like basketball or not! I thought that this, I guess, non-fiction work was far superior to Conroy's fictional "Beach Music."



5. During his senior season at The Citadel, a tough-nosed, all-male military academy, Pat Conroy's squad stumbled its way to an 8-17 record, falling two points short in the first round of the Southeastern Conference tournament due to John DeBrosse's blown fast break layup. In true Conroy form, the self-depreciating point guard blames the loss on his own lack of hustle in pursuing the missed shot. Regardless of who was at fault there, it was this miscue that brought about the writing of My Losing Season: "When DeBrosse found me in Dayton, it was the first indication I had that the 1966-67 basketball season could cause perpetual hurt to any other person besides myself." In this masterfully written memoir, Pat Conroy reconnects with memories of his dysfunctional basketball team from a season impossible to forget, one that shaped his view of the world and his direction as a writer.
   
   I was sold on Conroy after his first line in the book: "I was born to be a point guard, just not a very good one." A sentence beautiful in its witty simplicity, I could instantly relate to Conroy as a mediocre athlete myself; more importantly, this one line sums up Conroy's character as a whole. He portrays his passion and reverence for the game of basketball, a humble ethos and skill at his craft of writing.
   
   The truth is he was a very strong player, finishing his senior season as captain and MVP of the Bulldogs. However, in his eyes, he was always an unrelenting member of the Green Weenies, the scrubs of The Citadel team, overcoming obstacles including his lack of height and talent, his manic father, who suffered severely from a superiority complex, and his unappreciative, old-school coach. His proudest moment came when his coach noted, "that kid gets more mileage out of his talent than any other player I have ever coached." Conroy took those words to heart and applied them to his future as a novelist: "I soared upon them, gathered strength from them as I stormed out to my life as a writer who wanted to create winged and roaring sentences, the kind that would set language free."
   
   While his team was hitting its lowest lows, Conroy began to appreciate the power of his experiences. He finally detached from the bond that latched him to authoritative figures, learning to trust himself and disregard outside influence. This liberating realization led to the conclusion that "loss is a fiercer, more uncompromising teacher, coldhearted but clear-eyed in its understanding that life is more dilemma than game, and more trial than free pass." Culminating in his career as a writer, this season gave him ample stories and lessons to fuel his passion for literature. Ultimately, we learn that Conroy's writing salvaged his relationship with his father before it was too late, a man who led the typically docile Pat to once "dream of spitting on his body in the mortuary...again and again, until my mouth was dry." Conroy's basketball experiences provided him a voice and courage as a writer; if this contributed at all to mending his relationship with his father, than the losing season was surely worthwhile. Pat Conroy serves as an inspiration to me as a gritty athlete, a crafty writer, and model human being.

5 comments about Sports Illustrated: Hate Mail from Cheerleaders and Other Adventures from the Life of Reilly.

1. I feel a sports columnist's job is to evoke emotion in the reader. Make him/her laugh, cry, get angry, just don't bore them. Riley does that better than anyone. He's an amazingly gifted writer and I loved nearly every bit of this book. I'd already read most of these columns being a subscriber to Sports Illustrated, but they were definitely worth a re-read.
   
   He's great at tugging the heartstrings: The story on the cross country runner with cerebral palsey, the Middlebury fan who is confined to a wheelchair because of CP, the father who nominates his son -- killed in a motorcycle accident -- for Faces in the Crowd. All tear jerkers.
   
   He makes me laugh throughout the book, and get angry with all those arrogant/self-entitled athletes such as the steroid users.
   
   He's not just a sportswriter, he's a great writer. I can't recommend this book enough.
   
   * I wish Riley would've stayed with Sports Illustrated. I've heard he's dabbling in TV or ESPN, somewhere. Bad move. I've seen his TV commercials, he's not good on TV. He's a superstar in print, he should stay there. Nevertheless, this is one heckuva book.



2. As a recent Journalism grad this book was amazing. I would love to get into the sports writing field (although I have a feeling I'll never reach Reilly status). This was a great set of stories and life experiences. Very humorous and very touching.



3. I read a few chapters each night.
   
   One night I had tears on my pillow from laughter.
   
   The next night I had tears on my pillow from the inspirational story.
   
   It's likely that many of my friends will get this book for Christmas or their birthday. Just a great book!



4. I have read Rick Reilly on and off in SI for years. I am not a regular subscriber, so my readings of his work have not been consistent. I was getting ready to take a trip and wanted something that would be fun to read. I saw the 5 star reviews (on Amazon) of Rick's book but I was somewhat skeptical about getting it. As a University of Tennessee alumni and fan I had been upset when he had written an article slamming Pat Summit (legendary UT women's basketball coach) about "running up the score" on one of the Lady Vols opponents. Despite all this I decided to take a chance. I needed a good read on my vacation, and I knew he was a good writer, and I needed have a laugh or two while flying, or more often than not,sitting in the airport during another delay.
   This book is far more than I expected. This book is very funny, but many of his articles are very touching, and he exposes the best and the worst in the people involved in sports. Sports are the venue, but it is his insight into the people that make the stories so compelling.
   As a big fan of the late Jim Murray's writing, I never believed there would ever be another sports writer that good, but I think Rick is getting to that level. A great read, a must read, for any sports fan, period! Every bit a 5 star rating and more.



5. When my husband's Sports Illustrated comes, I open it up to the last page and read what Rick Reilly has to say. I really like his column and the fact that he went onto the Oprah Show to try to defend his gender...I know, I know, it is a losing battle if you saw the episode, you know what I mean. The column is usually is the only thing I read in the magazine. So when my husband mentioned Rick had this new book out I had to get it for him...if for nothing else to see him actually reading a book instead of Sporting News or Sports Illustrated.